Smita was regarded among the finest stage and film actresses of her time and she appeared in over 80 Hindi and Marathi films in a career that spanned just over a decade. She received two National Film Awards and was also the recipient of the Padma Shri in 1985.

Her work includes films like “Manthan”, “Bhumika”, “Aakrosh”, “Chakra”, “Chidambaram” and “Mirch Masala”. The actress was married to actor-politician Raj Babbar. She died in December 1986 at the age of 31 due to childbirth complications.